Verbal Ability (VA) Questions

MBA aspirants who are taking XAT on forthcoming January 5, 2014 may find following Verbal Ability questions useful for practice:

Each of these questions has a question with a part of it underlined. The question is followed by four alternatives to replace the underlined part of the sentence. Choose the best alternative which is grammatically correct.

Question 1

In this particular job we have discovered that to be diligent is more important than being bright.

(1) by being diligent is important than being bright.

(2) being diligent is more important than being bright.

(3) diligence is more important than brightness.

(4)f or one to be diligent is more important than being bright.

Answer

Option (3) - diligence is more important than brightness.

Explanation

There is a Parallel construction error in the original statement. A similar form is required on each side of the comparison. “Diligence - brightness”

Question 2

No one but him could have told them that the king was I.

(1) he could have told them that the king was me.

(2) him could have told them the king was me.

(3) he could have told them that the king was I.

(4) him could have told them that the king was I.

Answer

Option (4) - him could have told them that the king was I.

Explanation

The given statement is grammatically correct. The word “But” is always followed by an objective pronoun (him).

Question 3

If she were I, she would have accepted the prize had she won it.

(1) was I, she would have accepted the prize if she had won it.

(2 )was I, she would have accepted the prize she had won.

(3) were I, she would have accepted the prize if she would have won it.

(4) were I, she would have accepted the prize had she won it.

Answer

Option (4) - were I, she would have accepted the prize had she won it.

Explanation

Past perfect tense is required in the conditional clause “if she had won it”. Also, “I” is required after a form of the verb “to be”. And any hypothetical situation of “If I were she” or “If she were I” will have were and not was.